Who is Galactus in Marvel?

Galactus is a powerful cosmic entity in the Marvel Universe who serves as both antagonist and necessary force within the continuity. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Fantastic Four #48 in March 1966. Unlike traditional villains, Galactus operates without moral judgment, consuming entire planets to sustain his existence. His origin traces back to Galan, a Taa-an space explorer who gained cosmic abilities after passing near a star, transforming him into the planet-consuming entity known as Galactus. He is typically accompanied by the Silver Surfer as his herald and plays a functional role in maintaining balance within the Marvel cosmos, often serving as a challenge that heroes must confront when his attention falls on their worlds.